Homemade Fertilizer for Blueberries

by Lee Tea

Blueberries require very little in the way of fertilization.

Whether baked into muffins or pie, put into a salad or just eaten by themselves, blueberries are a delicious fruit that pack antioxidants that are good for your health. Growing them yourself means you can harvest and eat them at the peak of freshness. Fertilizing your blueberry bushes is easy and can be done with items found around your home.

Soil Testing

Blueberries thrive in acidic soil. Check the pH level of the soil your blueberry bushes are living in by using a soil pH testing kit, which can be purchased at most garden centers. The optimal pH level for blueberries is 4.5 to 5.1, which is considered to be very acidic in gardening terms. While some blueberry bushes tolerate slightly higher pH levels, the bush does not perform optimally. If the soil has a pH above 5.1, you need to acidify the soil for your blueberry bushes. Soil additives such as lime and sulfur acidify soil and are readily available at garden centers. Or, you can use household vinegar to acidify soil to keep your blueberry bushes healthy. Mix 1 gallon of water with 1 cup of plain white vinegar, and spray the soil around the blueberry bushes until the ground is wet but not saturated. Retest the soil 12 to 24 hours after applying the vinegar. Repeat the process until the appropriate pH is achieved.

Nitrogen

Blueberries do not require much in the way of fertilizer, but one nutrient they require in abundance is nitrogen. Coffee grounds are a good source of nitrogen for blueberry bushes, so don't throw away your grounds next time you make a pot of joe. To fertilize the soil, simply sprinkle 4 or 5 cups of coffee grounds around the ground beneath each blueberry bush, then rake the coffee grounds into the top layer of soil. This can be done at any time of day and can be repeated every two to four weeks or as necessary.

Organic Matter

In their natural wooded habitats, blueberry bushes receive plenty of nourishment through organic matter that finds its way onto the ground. Substances such as decaying plants, animal bones and leaves make the soil rich in organic matter, which blueberries need to be healthy. At home, the leaves that tumble from trees during the fall season can be crushed and worked into the topsoil around the blueberry bushes with a hand or soil rake. Pine sawdust or wood chips can also be worked into the soil for added organic matter if you happen to have any on hand. A 3-inch-thick layer of leaves or sawdust promotes a healthy blueberry bush. The organic matter can be applied annually in the springtime after the first application, which can occur at any time.

Considerations

If a blueberry bush is already healthy and yielding fruit, it doesn't need to be fertilized. In most cases, blueberries thrive without much fertilization and require very few added soil nutrients. Aside from additional organic matter and nitrogen, blueberry bushes usually can get all of the nutrients they need to thrive from the existing soil.

About the Author

Leeann Teagno has been writing professionally since 2006. An English major, she continues to study information systems management at American Public University. Teagno is an organic gardener, cook and technology buff with past employment in mobile communications. She also volunteers at an animal shelter and operates a home bakery.

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